Minimal Incision Total Joint Replacement

In the traditional surgical approach, a surgeon makes an eight to ten inch incision over the knee or hip. In a minimal incision total joint replacement, your surgeon will use a shorter incision, typically three to four inches. Minimal incision total joint replacement involves less cutting of the skin and soft tissue surrounding the hip or knee leading to reduced blood loss, less pain, better early motion and a quicker recovery.

While the implants used are the same as those used in the conventional surgical approach, minimal incision surgery requires special surgical instruments that are used to prepare the femur and tibia and place the implants.

Minimal incision total joint replacement may not be suitable for all patients, especially those who are having revision surgeries, are overweight or have severely deformed knees. Your doctor will conduct a detailed evaluation before recommending minimal incision total joint replacement to you.

Patients who undergo this procedure also require physical therapy and rehabilitation though the recovery time may be shorter.

Contact Us

To learn more about NYU Winthrop's Joint Replacement services, or for a physician referral, call 1-866-WINTHROP (1-866-946-8476) .